Chamber and committees

The construction sector is a source of resilience and transformation, but the supply chain poses challenges when it comes to delivering that. Is that your message to us?

We are getting a bit of buffering.

Charles Hammond talked about some of the practical things that are being done with HGVs. I am interested in your views on the interdependencies that exist and on resilience planning. Do you think that that is satisfactory or should we do more?

We will try to get Andrew Richards back later.

I have a couple of questions for all the panel members. What is the current cumulative impact of supply chain issues across different sectors? What can be done to mitigate that? What resilience planning are you aware of at Scottish Government or UK Government level? I have three supermarket distribution warehouses in my constituency, and I am aware of the potential cumulative impact on those of Covid, Brexit and the shortage of labour supply. Given the interrelationships that exist, what can be done to mitigate some of the immediate issues? What do we need to do to build in resilience for the future?

Andrew Richards is now back with us. We are about to hear from the rest of the panel on the cumulative impact of the current pressures and how they are affecting the interrelationships between the sectors. What can be done to build in resilience for the sectors? We will start with Martin Reid, as we have not heard from him for a while. Is there anything that the other sectors can do to help your sector? What resilience planning do you think is needed?

I am sorry, Andrew—I think that we are being cut off.

Thank you. Can I put the same question to Ewan MacDonald-Russell and Andrew Richards?

Good morning. It is good to see you. I recognise the major achievement of setting up a bank from scratch during a pandemic. When you came into post in April 2020, it was an interesting time.

I want to look to the future. Recognising that we are still in a pandemic, and noting the influences of the 26th United Nations climate change conference of the parties—COP26—and the objectives that must be met globally, not just by Governments but by private finance, will you comment on how you see the market going forward, bearing in mind that the bank is considering cornerstone financing but also gap financing? Have you seen changes over the past year? What might you forecast regarding the generation of private capital and the billions of pounds of green investment that will be required if the world is to achieve net zero?

Good morning, everyone. I think that we acknowledge that not all green jobs have to come from the green jobs fund. Will Highlands and Islands Enterprise confirm my understanding that, at its request and to secure more flexibility in its general and uplifted budget last year, it has ensured that it can invest in green jobs and that the majority of the green jobs fund is with Scottish Enterprise for that purpose?

My next question is for Scottish Enterprise and South of Scotland Enterprise. You have all talked about how you support your clients or account managed companies in achieving net zero. We should bear it in mind that the biggest impact to achieve net zero will be from addressing heating in buildings and decarbonisation. What are you doing, or what needs to be done, to help SMEs that are not account managed or do not have access to SE or SOSE in a regular relationship to invest to decarbonise and to address the heating of their buildings? It should be borne in mind that many such SMEs will be carrying a lot of Covid business debt. I am concerned about whether there is a gap in the market.

Will HIE confirm that it is investing in green jobs through not only the green jobs fund? Will SE and SOSE talk about SMEs that they do not account manage and how we can help them to invest for decarbonisation and to reduce their heating emissions?

I ask the witnesses from SE to talk about SMEs that SE does not have a relationship with at present but which need help to decarbonise and reduce emissions.

I think that Mr McDonald has frozen, convener.